grayson astor

"Someone looks like they're in a less grumpier mood than usual," Matthew entered my office wearing clothes far from work attire. It was...jean shorts, slides and a hoodie. He looked like he might've been jumped on the way here. "You must be having sex again," he observed with a grin. He wasn't wrong in assuming my less obnoxious mood had to do with the change in my sex life. But I'm a man. A man who has needs, and when those needs aren't necessarily met, there's bound to be consequences suffered somewhere.

"What happened? Do you need money? Who do we need to hunt down?" I quickly asked him before he frowned.

"Nothing happened, bastard. It's called fashion. Not all of us choose to eat, sleep and breathe in suits," Matthew commented and I dramatically rolled my eyes. He was here because we were having a board meeting in an hour which included both him and my father along with the other board of directors. Every time I see my brother, I see him do everything possible to upset my father. And this attire will do exactly that.

"Whatever," I glanced at my phone when I received a text.

: how busy are you today?

: why?

: i'm losing my mind, gray

I chuckled and could already feel Matthew's eyes on me as he wondered what I could possibly be smiling about.

Going on maternity leave was Kalani's idea. At first she was excited to spend all the time with the baby. I thought I was a workaholic, but Kalani is even worse because she can't stay home and enjoy this break from work.

: would you have time for lunch?

I looked at the time. I had my meeting I needed to attend. But I would be lying to myself if I said I wouldn't rather have lunch and see Amelia.

: i can be at cactus in thirty

: yay!

"Change of plans. Talia!" I called out. My assistant's desk was outside my office and she could usually hear me if I yelled loud enough.

"Tracey, Mr. Astor," she corrected me. I honestly can't remember her name to save my life.

"Inform the board I won't be attending the board meeting," I ran my hand through my hair that was getting longer than I wanted. But my schedule has been hectic to say the least.

"Yes sir," she scurried out of the office with Matthew giving me a daunting laugh that pissed me off.

"What the fuck are you laughing about now?" I don't know why I even asked. He may be older but he's childish and finds everything funny. For all I know, he's laughing at something stupid I couldn't be bothered to know about.

"You're not going to the board meeting?"

"No. I'm...I'm having lunch with Kalani," I was hesitant about telling the truthful reason as to why I'm no longer attending it. But I realized there was no need to keep it a secret. I'm a grown man who is allowed to have lunch with my fiancé and daughter if I would like.

"The same person who won't even leave work on his birthday is the same one who is leaving work to have lunch? Who are you and what have you done with my brother?" He stood to go to my snack cart in the office.

I've never seen the need to take time off for my birthday. I would be taking time off just to be alone. The day used to remind me I chose work over anything else and despite how it never bothered me, I couldn't help my loneliness at times. The inability to trust or ever confide in anyone. Never being able to put my guard down out of fear of someone not liking what's going on inside. Now I've somehow landed this amazing woman who stumbled into my life on accident and has given me a gift I never knew I needed.

"You're a pain in the ass sometimes," I mumbled, getting onto my feet to leave the room. I have no problem admitting to myself and Kalani that I want to change my lifestyle for my child and future wife. But admitting it aloud for everyone else to know and hear is something completely different.

I suggested the restaurant Cactus, not only because it's one of Kalani's favourite, but it's right in the middle between the house and my office. Around this time is always busier than usual. It's filled with women who come here for lunch dates and men who come here for business lunches.

"I need a table," I told the host while waiting to receive a text from Kalani of her arrival.

"Sir, I'm sorry but we're-"

"No no. Rhonda, this is Mr. Grayson Astor, so we can indeed make room for him," a man spoke through his teeth while he smiled at me. She must be new. "Just a moment sir," he left to prepare a table for me in an adequate location. Their rooftop patio has always been the only place I sit.

I looked outside, already seeing Kalani had parked her car and gotten out. She pushed a stroller with Amelia inside.

When Kalani said she'd marry me, I had my doubts. I couldn't just marry any woman. I needed to marry a woman who would actually be a good wife to me and a good mother to my child I thought I wouldn't want. But seeing her everyday makes me wonder why I ever had those doubts. The way she supports me and my career and the decisions I have to make is more than I ever could've expected to get from my wife. The way she is with our daughter makes me happy and I didn't think her new motherly instincts is something I could be so attracted to. But seeing her makes me excited to officially have her as mine because I can't imagine anyone else being able to call her theirs. She makes me want to work hard to be everything she deserves.

"You look good," I observed her attire. She had these black leather pants and white long sleeve top going into her pants. I only knew her from the night we met and then three months later when she was pregnant. After she gave birth, she stayed wearing baggy clothes because she wasn't comfortable with her body. But now she's gaining all this new confidence and it's never looked better on her.

"Aww thank you," a voice not coming from Kalani spoke and it wasn't until now that I realized Paige was with her. I looked at Kalani for an answer.

"She insisted on coming and I didn't think you'd have a problem with it. It's okay right?" She went onto her toes, placing her lips on mine. She's the only one who has the ability to make me lose all control just from her touch. My arms went around her waist, bringing her small frame closer to mine. I didn't want to let go of her. I wanted to pull her away and continue holding onto her.

"Yeah big brother, it's okay right?" Paige ruined whatever I was previously feeling. I pulled away from the kiss to look in the stroller. Amelia was awake and her hazel eyes looked back at me. Everyone says she looks like me and at first I doubted it because I felt bad she'd be burdened with looking like someone who never originally wanted her. But now looking at her and seeing me feels like this gift I don't deserve. She's just starting to smile and her little smile lights up my world.

"Mr. Astor. We have your table prepared," the gentleman came back and pointed in the direction of the elevator. I pulled Kalani away, forcing Paige to push the stroller.

"I'm supposed to hear back from Lee today," I told her because I knew she would be interested in hearing about whether my offer is accepted or not. She's been supportive about work and I'm grateful for it.

"That's good. It'll be accepted, don't worry. Your timeline and plan will work out, I promise," she held my hand to squeeze. It's cute she would promise something completely out of her control. We got out of the elevator, seeing the patio was cleared out of other people. Thankfully because I hate having to hear irrelevant conversations around me.

I pulled out her seat, letting her sit down. "Are you going to pull out mine?" Paige teased and I gave her a glare to shut her up. If Kalani didn't want her here so bad, I would've ordered her a car and sent her home. She stayed with me for a few months but thankfully had found a place she moved into. Which is why I don't understand why she still visits the house so much.

"Has she eaten?" I brought the stroller beside me while Kalani sat on the other side of me. My perfect angel reached for my hand which I gave her to play with. Her eyes glowed as a smile appeared on her face.

"Yeah. I fed her before we left," she opened her menu like she wouldn't order the same thing she normally does. And that's exactly what she did. She ordered the same bowl she always does and stole bits of my food as usual. As opposed to usual, I had my nagging sister here desperately wanting to be involved in conversation. And Kalani being the kind person she is, welcomed Paige into every conversation.

"There you are!" The elevator pinged open and my father came walking through the door. The board meeting must've ended and it's clear he's upset I wasn't present. Questioning how he knew I was here was unnecessary. It was due to my brother's big fat- "You fucking ungrateful brat."

"What's he running his mouth about now?" Paige muttered under her breath. There's always something when it comes to my father. Especially since my brother is a near hippy and my sister is spoiled rotten.

"You missed the board meeting for what? A lunch? You continue to prove to me you are undeserving of the CEO position. You lack the required brain cells to make business decisions. I cannot-" He was cut off by Kalani laughing hysterically. Considering my sister looked like she was going to pee her pants and my hand couldn't seem to stop shaking under the table, this was a terrible time to be laughing. I hate how much I lose myself when he's like this. But I knew if he even dared to say anything about Kalani, I would have no problem speaking up. "Is something I said funny?"

"Yes. Everything you said, actually. It's just oddly ironic how for a family run business, you are the furthest thing from a family man. You embody none of the core values your company strives to possess," she went off, causing Paige's jaw to fall open. "With that being said, if you talk to your son like this again or as much as look at him the wrong way, I will cut off your fingers and shove them up your ass." I wanted to be surprised by Kalani's words, but I wasn't. I've had the pleasure of attending a few car shows with Yadiel and have heard the vulgar things that leave his lips. Kalani is a sweet and kind person, but she's definitely learned a few things from her brothers.

"I..." my father was completely lost for words. "Don't miss the next board meeting," he spoke to me then turned to leave us.

"Wow. If Grayson doesn't marry you, I will," Paige smiled being fascinated by the woman who sat across from her.

"Are you okay?" She turned her body to face me. Looking into her worried eyes, I felt her hand hold mine. She squeezed onto it, doing everything she could to comfort me. But she didn't need to comfort me. My father has said worse things to and it would take a lot more for him to finally break me. "I didn't know you had a board meeting. You didn't have to meet me for lunch, Gray. I would've been fine," she insisted. I really didn't have to meet with her.

When she said I need to make her and Amelia a priority over work, I know missing important meetings for a silly lunch isn't what she meant. But I genuinely missed her and would've done it again if it meant sitting here while she held my hand and asked if I was okay.